Jason Harris
Kristin Verbitsky is the Founder and President of Storic Media Podcast Network. Podcasting is one of the fast-growing entertainment mediums – and Kristin is a force in the field.
Kristin founded Storic Media, (a division of United Stations Radio Networks, the largest radio programming network in the country). In her entrepreneurial role as founder and president, she secures talent, directs, scripts, and produces. Storic Media premiered in March of 2020 with a variety of podcasts hosted by celebrities like Melissa Rivers, Alice Cooper, Vinny Pastore, and is one of the fastest-growing podcasts platforms today. In just one year Kristin has grown the network to over 20 substantial podcasts featuring a wide range of entertainment verticals including sports, crime, thriller, lifestyle, fan-casts, comedy, comedy-thriller, mystery, drama, music, and children’s content (featuring the already award-winning Granny McDuff which Kristin scripts and produces). This year the podcast will onboard another 20 more diverse podcasts from entertainment to health/wellness with hosts such as Shahs of Sunset Reza Farahan, The Biggest Loser’s Dolvett Quince, famed crime reporter, and best-selling book author Michelle McPhee, and more.
StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Kristin to discuss her journey in the industry and here’s what went down:
Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started Storic?
I’m born and raised in New York City. I have a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Tisch in Dramatic Writing. So, at heart, I’m a writer. I got into directing and then just a few months before the pandemic hit, I got the green light to launch my own podcast network. The first idea I had, even before Storic Podcast Media Network had a name, was to do a pod where a Grandmother reads classic fairy tales. It’s called Fairy Tales with Granny MacDuff and it is now the most listened to podcasts on the network. We launched Storic just a few weeks after the pandemic began – very interesting timing for sure – but it has quickly grown an audience with about 25 podcasts – and we’re still growing. We are looking forward to a very exciting fall.
What are you (and your marketing team) currently doing to maintain/grow Storic?
Podcast growth is really all about word of mouth. Cross-promotion is also a huge tool as well as social media. We share clips from episodes on our socials that we think will connect to our listeners.
What social media platforms do you use to increase your brand’s awareness?
We use Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We feel these are the best for interacting with our audiences.
What form of marketing has worked best to grow Storic’s audience this past year?
Cross-promotion has been hugely helpful to growing the network. Our hosts go on other podcasts as guests, and it helps spread the word. Then we hope the hosts of those podcasts come on our shows as well! So synergy and cross-promoting with like-minded podcasts are key.
What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?
To end production of a show. Not everything is meant to be or meant to last, and it’s always a hard decision, or difficult to part ways with a podcast team.
What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?
I wouldn’t say I feel I’ve made mistakes – I think there are always learning experiences.
Now that Storic is up and running, What new business would you love to start next?
I would love for us to branch out down the road – this is just the beginning!
If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?
I’ve learned so much since we launched Storic– which was at the beginning of the pandemic – that was definitely an enormous hurdle but made us smarter and stronger as a team.
One thing perhaps I would change is learning to delegate sooner. I hate asking for help – but what I’ve realized is it’s okay not to have to do everything yourself, try not to micro-manage, and let my talented staff do their job!
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
My father always told me, “Just get it done.” This has always resonated with me.
What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?
Keep your skin thick and don’t let anyone or anything get you down. Doubt is what opens up the possibility of failure. Just keep doing your thing. Most importantly, believe in yourself. You got this far, right?
Jason Harris
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